Join The Placemakers Exchange on May 20th in the Smith Student Union Ballroom. The Roundtable is Noon to 1:00pm (additional activities run 11:30am - 4:00pm). This interactive event brings students and community leaders together to have action-oriented discussions on evening vibrancy, "third spaces" for connection, student-led efforts, and more. Your voice is essential so the PSU experience reflects our diverse community and perspectives.
Visit the PSU PLACEMAKING page for all of the event details.
DAY AT A GLANCE
11:30 Doors & Poster Showcase
12:00 The Roundtable Exchange & Breakout Sessions
3:00 Placemaking Campus Tours
4:00 Party with the Pups At the new PSU Dog Park (SW Market & 11th)
ROUNDTABLE PANELISTS
This highlight of the event brings together the OGs and the upstarts, the nerds and the community developers to share honest, "messy" real-world success stories about implementing high-impact urban interventions:
- Matthew Claudel: Founder & CEO, Field States, bringing expertise in "adaptive urbanism".
- Lizzy Caston: Co-Manager, Alberta Last Thursday & Senior Associate with Leland Consulting, sharing strategies on building economic and community resilience.
- Ryan Al-Schamma: Architectural Designer at GBD Architects & Founder of Stay ON the Grass, leading the charge on "tactile activations" and grassroots re-greening.
- David Raycroft: Co-founder, Geek Week PDX, connecting local business culture with community building.
- Lisha Shrestha: Executive Director, Division Midway Alliance, offering deep insights into fostering cultural belonging in SE Portland.
- Matt Wagner: Founder, Creative Neighborhoods Pickathon Non-Profit, exploring how creative programming can drive neighborhood pride.
POTENTIAL DISCUSSION AREAS
- Creating a Culture of Belonging: Developing equity-driven, community-centered strategies to make PSU a place where people want to stay, show up, and belong.
- The 18-Hour Neighborhood: Strategies for retail, evening lighting, and safe navigation to make campus a destination, not just a commute.
- Breezeways & Plazas: Fresh activation and connection strategies for our unique "Breezeways" and transit-adjacent plazas.
- District Building (Long-term Placekeeping): Addressing fragmented campus identities by focusing on cohesive "Districts" (e.g., the Oak Savanna District).
- "Low-Barrier" Interventions & Grassroots Placemaking: Fostering community through flexible, low-cost, student-led interventions in underutilized spaces.